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- #31
Update....Coop 2 weeks, chicken additions one week.
First...to BigBadCryBaby....I don't have a Marans rooster so I won't be hatching any Marans eggs. Plus so far my Marans eggs are not very dark.
We started letting everyone out of the coop this week. I'm glad because I had identified a few problems with the group. Someone was breaking and eating some of the eggs. I have only been getting about 5 per day from the 20 hens, except for one day I got 10. I can't tell if it is moving stress, being cooped up (the coop is kind of dark), or if the eggs were being eaten. I know some eggs were eaten because I found dry yolk on one of the golf balls and the bottom of the nest box was wet with yolk.
So......I tried the mustard egg trick with some of DH's jalapeno mustard and I added wooden eggs to all of the nest boxes. So far no wet shavings or dried yolk anywhere, but I'm still only getting 5 eggs/day.
Next problem, some feather picking continuing on the lowest ranking hens. The breeder I got the hens from had told me that they were healing up from some winter boredom picking. I'm not sure if the shake up in the pecking order re-started it or what.
So.....I have been giving the group yogurt with dry milk added in for extra protein and calcium. I have also added black oil sunflower seeds as treats. I added another feeder as well.
As a preventative, I added some DE to my feed and to all the nest boxes. I also put it in there favorite dirt bath spot and around the coop. I have not seen any lice or mites, but a couple of the hens are thin. I figured it could be bullying or worms. So DE and the extra feeder. I have not seen any sign of worms. If the hens put on weight I will not use a chemical wormer. Hopefully the DE will be enough to prevent any worm issues.
On the positive side, many of the hens are warming up, I can pick them up or they will at least eat from my hand.
The roo has been fine. In fact I was quite proud of him today.
He was out with the girls while DH and I mended a hole we found the the pasture fence (apparently the grass seems greener on the other side to hens too).
All of the sudden all of the hens made a beeline for the pop door. Calmly, in single file, each one entered the coop with Big Joe bringing up the rear. We all laughed and wondered what was up, when I spotted a hawk flying over our neighborhood. He wasn't even over the pasture, but Joe must have seen him. I am so glad to have a docile roo that appears to be a good protector. I am also glad the girls listened to him. After about 20 minutes Joe came out to see if the coast was clear. Then out came the girls.
Here are some pictures of everyone in the pasture. (Oh yeah, and I"m playing with the editing on Photobucket). DH and I are gearing up for our chicks that arrive next week.
Off to Farm and Fleet for some last minute supplies.
Happy Easter!!!
Liz
First...to BigBadCryBaby....I don't have a Marans rooster so I won't be hatching any Marans eggs. Plus so far my Marans eggs are not very dark.
We started letting everyone out of the coop this week. I'm glad because I had identified a few problems with the group. Someone was breaking and eating some of the eggs. I have only been getting about 5 per day from the 20 hens, except for one day I got 10. I can't tell if it is moving stress, being cooped up (the coop is kind of dark), or if the eggs were being eaten. I know some eggs were eaten because I found dry yolk on one of the golf balls and the bottom of the nest box was wet with yolk.
So......I tried the mustard egg trick with some of DH's jalapeno mustard and I added wooden eggs to all of the nest boxes. So far no wet shavings or dried yolk anywhere, but I'm still only getting 5 eggs/day.
Next problem, some feather picking continuing on the lowest ranking hens. The breeder I got the hens from had told me that they were healing up from some winter boredom picking. I'm not sure if the shake up in the pecking order re-started it or what.
So.....I have been giving the group yogurt with dry milk added in for extra protein and calcium. I have also added black oil sunflower seeds as treats. I added another feeder as well.
As a preventative, I added some DE to my feed and to all the nest boxes. I also put it in there favorite dirt bath spot and around the coop. I have not seen any lice or mites, but a couple of the hens are thin. I figured it could be bullying or worms. So DE and the extra feeder. I have not seen any sign of worms. If the hens put on weight I will not use a chemical wormer. Hopefully the DE will be enough to prevent any worm issues.
On the positive side, many of the hens are warming up, I can pick them up or they will at least eat from my hand.
The roo has been fine. In fact I was quite proud of him today.
He was out with the girls while DH and I mended a hole we found the the pasture fence (apparently the grass seems greener on the other side to hens too).
All of the sudden all of the hens made a beeline for the pop door. Calmly, in single file, each one entered the coop with Big Joe bringing up the rear. We all laughed and wondered what was up, when I spotted a hawk flying over our neighborhood. He wasn't even over the pasture, but Joe must have seen him. I am so glad to have a docile roo that appears to be a good protector. I am also glad the girls listened to him. After about 20 minutes Joe came out to see if the coast was clear. Then out came the girls.
Here are some pictures of everyone in the pasture. (Oh yeah, and I"m playing with the editing on Photobucket). DH and I are gearing up for our chicks that arrive next week.
Off to Farm and Fleet for some last minute supplies.
Happy Easter!!!
Liz
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